Survivors of Suicide Part 2/2
An amount of individuals find it difficult to resolve their issues of grief and develop a complicated grief reaction. 10% to 20% of bereaved individuals tend to develop complicated grief. Complicated grief is a bereavement reaction which prolongs acute grief. In complicated grief the pain of loss remains strong and healing doesn’t take place. The individual may experience pervasive images of the death whilst positive memories of the deceased may be repressed. The individual might perceive life as empty in which the individual yearns to be with the deceased.
Compassion in Supporting Complicated Grief
Thus the perception may lead individuals to believe suicide is their only escape. Moreover, complicated grief often disrupts emotional stability and rational decision-making abilities. Consequently, daily routines become increasingly difficult to maintain without adequate emotional support structures. Additionally, occupational performance may decline as focus and motivation significantly decrease over time. Furthermore, social relationships can suffer when grief creates withdrawal and isolation from loved ones. Likewise, feelings of hopelessness may intensify when individuals lack understanding or empathy from others.
How Early Intervention Helps
Therefore, early intervention plays a crucial role in preventing harmful coping mechanisms from developing. Similarly, consistent professional counselling can restore a sense of purpose and connection. Ultimately, building resilience requires patience, compassion, and ongoing access to supportive resources. In conclusion, recognising these warning signs enables timely help and promotes overall mental wellbeing.
Issues which arise due to the complicated nature of surviving a suicide:
- Need to understand why the loved one ended their life.
- Guilt and responsibility, in which the loved one blames themselves for the death as they feel responsible for their death, almost like they feel that they should have paid more attention to the behaviours of the deceased.
- Rejection from society due to the stigma which surrounds the topic of suicide.
- Perceived abandonment from their loved ones due to cognitive distortions in which they only attend to negative stimuli
- Anger towards the deceased as they cannot understand why the loved one abandoned them and caused them such pain.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- Risk of suicide.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, individual and group interventions can provide valuable guidance in helping survivors understand their grief journey. Moreover, professional support offers structured coping strategies that encourage emotional expression and resilience. Consequently, these interventions assist individuals in processing complex emotions and finding meaning after such a traumatic loss. Therefore, survivors often experience improved mental health and an increased ability to re-engage with daily life. In conclusion, combining compassionate care with effective interventions fosters long-term healing and overall wellbeing for those affected.
Compassion: Written by Karl Grech
Karl Grech is a counsellor. He offers counselling to both individuals and couples within Willingness. He can be contacted on karl@willingness.com.mt.
